Given Chad Kuhl's recently uninspiring outings and the absence of rising star Jameson Taillon (testicular cancer), a Pirates pitching rotation that once appeared solid, need some help.

Whether Tyler Glasnow can provide it in Thursday's matinee against the Nationals at PNC Park looms as a major question mark. Once presumed to be the next big thing, almost literally (he stands 6-foot-7), Glasnow continues to struggle with command and control.

Considered a rookie, Glasnow had a 4.24 ERA to go with 24 strikeouts and 13 walks over 23 1/3 innings in seven outings (four starts) last year. Not bad, but improvement was expected. Instead, after seven starts in 2017, the right-hander is 1-3 with a 7.98 ERA, 31 strikeouts and 21 walks in 29 1/3 innings.

His last outing, an 11-4 loss to Arizona on Friday, was rough -- seven earned runs in 2 1/3 innings. Missed location was the primary culprit. Catcher Chris Stewart afterward described several of Glasnow's pitches as "very hittable."

Glasnow himself had little to offer, noting "You've got to keep your head up and move on."

Meanwhile righty Tanner Roark, who will start for Washington on Thursday, has been somewhat less effective than in 2016, when he won 16 games with a 2.83 ERA. Roark is 3-1 with a 3.88 ERA.

Roark's pitch count has been higher than anticipated. In his previous start on Friday, he threw 110 pitches in 4 2/3 innings, yielding six hits and three walks during a 6-4 Nats victory over Philadelphia. Two starts before that, Roark threw 125 pitches in six innings in a loss to Arizona.

Three things to know

• Roark allowed four of his 10 hardest hits of the season in his last outing, although each of them was a single, including one at a season-high 108.5 mph, according to Statcast.

• Still a rookie after 45 games and 152 plate appearances last season, Pirates first baseman Josh Bell led all National League rookies in on-base percentage (.333) and was tied with the Dodgers' Cody Bellinger and the Padres' Hunter Renfroe for the lead in home runs by a rookie (seven) going into Wednesday's game. Bell hit No. 8 in the sixth inning on Wednesday night.

• Tanner Roark allowed four of his 10 hardest hits of the season in his last outing, although each of them was a single, including one at a season-high 108.5 mph.

Glasnow is such a big baby. Dude gets a 4-1 lead. What's he do? He doesn't go after the lead off man in the 4th inning. He doesn't trust his heat (his #1 asset) to throw strikes and get outs. He walks the leading lady. Later, that man comes around to score in a 3-run frame to tie the contest. BTW, the last two runs scored when Glasnow couldn't make a decent throw to first on a dribbler back to towards the mind -- Glasnow threw it into the runner.

Too bad AJ Burnett isn't around to school this big baby (or beat the crap out of him). AJs two younger sons probably both are more mature and mentally tough than Glasnow is today.

Glasnow is such a big baby. Dude gets a 4-1 lead. What's he do? He doesn't go after the lead off man in the 4th inning. He doesn't trust his heat (his #1 asset) to throw strikes and get outs. He walks the leading lady. Later, that man comes around to score in a 3-run frame to tie the contest. BTW, the last two runs scored when Glasnow couldn't make a decent throw to first on a dribbler back to towards the mind -- Glasnow threw it into the runner.

Too bad AJ Burnett isn't around to school this big baby (or beat the crap out of him). AJs two younger sons probably both are more mature and mentally tough than Glasnow is today.

Didn't see it but I don't think Glasnow's failings are from nibbling. He isn't Jeff Locke reincarnated. Glasniow just has spells were he just completely loses the plate. Quite common with extremely tall hard throwers. Hopefully he figures out soon. Some take a long time. It took Randy Johnson about 3 years in the big leagues before he finally could lock in the plate for the duration of a start. It took Nolan Ryan even longer. And these are the guys that figured it out. Many don't. Many are converted to relievers, or worse yet, completely wash out. Regardless, I'm happy the Pirates are giving him time to figure it out in the big leagues. I don't think these are issues that more minor league seasoning can solve.

_________________Neal Huntington on what he's been told by his bosses about $$$: "We've got assurances we're going to be able to continue to do what we've done."

Glasnow is such a big baby. Dude gets a 4-1 lead. What's he do? He doesn't go after the lead off man in the 4th inning. He doesn't trust his heat (his #1 asset) to throw strikes and get outs. He walks the leading lady. Later, that man comes around to score in a 3-run frame to tie the contest. BTW, the last two runs scored when Glasnow couldn't make a decent throw to first on a dribbler back to towards the mind -- Glasnow threw it into the runner.

Too bad AJ Burnett isn't around to school this big baby (or beat the crap out of him). AJs two younger sons probably both are more mature and mentally tough than Glasnow is today.

Didn't see it but I don't think Glasnow's failings are from nibbling. He isn't Jeff Locke reincarnated. Glasniow just has spells were he just completely loses the plate. Quite common with extremely tall hard throwers. Hopefully he figures out soon. Some take a long time. It took Randy Johnson about 3 years in the big leagues before he finally could lock in the plate for the duration of a start. It took Nolan Ryan even longer. And these are the guys that figured it out. Many don't. Many are converted to relievers, or worse yet, completely wash out. Regardless, I'm happy the Pirates are giving him time to figure it out in the big leagues. I don't think these are issues that more minor league seasoning can solve.

Me, too. I just hope he figures it out way before the Bucs trade him at the deadline in say 2019 for some prospects.